By Teman Knight
Adjunct Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
PURPOSE RESTORED
Acts 3:14–26
We have studied the truth that God created us for a purpose. Instead of submitting to God, we sin and follow our own selfish desires. Abandoning God’s purpose, we find ourselves adrift and looking for purpose, but fulfillment continues to elude us. On our own, we are not able to overcome the barrier of sin. We are thankful God sent His Son to overcome this obstacle for us. Through Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection sin is defeated. When we respond to Him with repentance and faith, we are saved from sin and regain our focus on God’s purpose for our lives.
Peter and John enter the temple and encounter a man crippled since birth. He is begging for coins but instead of giving him money, they command him to rise and walk in the name of Jesus. God miraculously heals the man, and he begins to jump around praising God. The lame man did not get what he asked for; God instead gave him what he needed. Many try to find their purpose in helping people with physical needs. Society is filled with people with economic, emotional, family or physical problems. Peter understood that meeting physical needs is important, but God’s purpose must include addressing their spiritual condition. Peter uses this opportunity to share the gospel, demonstrating that God’s purpose for every believer includes sharing the gospel of Jesus.
Jesus restores when we place our faith in Him. (14–18)
Peter begins his presentation of the gospel to those who gathered to see the miracle by reminding them of their guilt for rejecting Jesus and demanding that Barabbas be set free. Peter tells them that this was God’s plan and points them back to the prophets. He may have been referring to Isaiah’s “Songs of the Suffering Servant” (Isa. 42, 49, 50 and 52–53) as he calls Jesus “servant” and uses the term “suffering” to describe His death. He tells them that the answer to their guilt and sin is faith in Jesus.
Jesus forgives and refreshes us when we repent of our sin. (19–21)
Peter calls them to repentance with two expressions: “repent” and “turn back.” He calls them to turn away from their rejection of Jesus and God’s purpose and turn to God’s Messiah and His will. If they will repent and turn to God, three things will happen: Their sins will be wiped out, they will be refreshed by the presence of God and He will send Jesus who is the Messiah. God will do the same for us if we will turn from our sins and turn to Him.
Only Jesus can bring us back to God. (22–26)
Peter then traces God’s salvation plan throughout history. From Abraham, Moses, Samuel and all the prophets God’s plan always pointed toward Jesus. He is the only way we can return to God. Notice the word “offspring” is singular. The world will be blessed not by all of Abraham’s descendants but by one specific “Servant.” Paul would emphasize this same point. “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say ‘and to seeds,’ as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed, who is Christ” (Gal. 3:16). God raised Jesus so we could turn from our sin and come back to God and fulfill His purpose of sharing the gospel with others.
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